Rajasthan brings tigress from MP to boost tiger genetics:Controlled by 4 elephants, evaded a 50-member team for 25 days, now under constant monitoring

Rajasthan has launched an ambitious initiative to strengthen the genetic diversity of its tiger population through inter-state translocation. As part of this programme, a tigress, identified as PN-224, was brought from the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi on November 21. This marks the first instance of a tiger being relocated to Rajasthan from another state. The tigress, aged between two and three years, had recently separated from her mother and had begun establishing her own territory in Pench, making her suitable for translocation under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines. 25-day operation in dense forest terrain The operation to capture PN-224 proved extremely challenging. A joint team of around 50 forest officials from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh searched for the tigress continuously for 25 days. Trap cameras were installed, elephant squads were deployed, and ground teams scoured the forest daily from 6 am until nightfall. An initial attempt to tranquilise the tigress failed when the dart missed its target, after which the animal disappeared. On the same day, her location was traced using AI-based trap cameras. Despite this, the tigress evaded capture for several more days, highlighting the difficulty of operating in rugged forest terrain familiar to the animal. Search intensifies from late November According to Mukundra Tiger Reserve Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Suganaram Jat, the Rajasthan team reached Pench on November 26. Pench authorities had identified two to three potential tigresses meeting NTCA criteria. The joint search began on November 28. On December 5, the tigress was finally tranquilised and fitted with a radio collar. However, the collar slipped off, and the tigress once again disappeared into the forest, forcing the team to temporarily suspend the operation. The search resumed a few days later and intensified on December 12, with teams again tracking the forest from dawn to dusk. Close encounter on December 20 On December 20, the tigress was located once more. Two elephant squads reached the site and managed to surround her. Veterinary teams were positioned on the elephants, but the tigress remained extremely alert and aggressive, constantly changing position to avoid capture. A dart was fired around 4 pm, but it failed to take effect. The team withdrew for the day, reassessing their strategy. Success achieved on December 21 The following morning, December 21, the team returned with a revised plan. This time, four elephant squads were deployed instead of two, with veterinary experts positioned on each elephant. The operation began at 6 am. The tigress continued to evade capture until around 3 pm, when the four elephants successfully surrounded her, restricting her movement. Taking advantage of the moment, the veterinary team tranquilised the tigress safely. Monitoring in Ramgarh Vishdhari Reserve Following her capture, PN-224 was transported to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve and placed in a soft enclosure. She is currently under round-the-clock monitoring by forest officials and veterinary experts, who are closely observing her health, behaviour, and ability to adapt to the new environment. After an initial acclimatisation period, she will be moved to a hard enclosure before being released into the open forest. Temporary helipads were constructed at Bundi Police Parade Ground and Bajalia within the reserve to support the logistics of the operation. Learning from challenges and future goals CCF Suganaram Jat described the translocation as a complex learning experience, emphasising the importance of understanding tiger behaviour and exercising extreme caution during tranquilisation. He noted that missing the brief ‘golden period’ after darting can put both animals and personnel at risk. The primary objective of inter-state tiger translocation, he explained, is to strengthen the genetic base of the tiger population and prevent long-term inbreeding. Scientific studies indicate strong corridor connectivity in Central India, and officials believe the introduction of new genetics will yield positive results once the tigress establishes territory and breeds. An earlier attempt at inter-state translocation in Odisha in 2018 was unsuccessful. In Rajasthan, however, this marks a historic step, following earlier intra-state relocations such as the movement of tigers from Ranthambore to Sariska in 2008.